The Distance Between Us

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text throughout your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Reyna and her sister Mago have a complicated relationship throughout the memoir.

• What conclusions can readers draw from Grande’s depiction of her older sister? (topic sentence)
• Analyze three depictions of Mago in the novel and explain how it illustrates their relationship. Be sure to include textual evidence to support your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, evaluate how their relationship ultimately changes. Does it change for the better or worse?

2. Grande titles this memoir The Distance Between Us, referring to the physical and emotional distances between herself, her siblings, and her parents.

• What are the distances between the Grande children and their parents? (topic sentence)
• Choose one parent and analyze how Grande illustrates the distances between the children and that parent, connecting your evidence to the memoir’s theme of Geographical and Emotional Distance Within Immigrant Families.
• In the conclusion of your essay, discuss how well Grande conveys the emotional impacts of the distances between her family members.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. There are times when Reyna questions her identity. Is she American? Is she Mexican? Examine the memoir’s theme of Forging New Identities as Immigrants and write an essay that examines the author’s shifting identity throughout the memoir. What circumstances prompt her identity crisis? How does her identity transform throughout?

2. One of the significant distances that Grande explores in the novel is the physical and emotional distance that develops between herself and her parents. What other distances develop throughout Grande’s personal development? Analyze the memoir’s literary and narrative devices to explain your answer. Your response can discuss major themes, motifs, or sub-themes.

3. Dreams and dreams deferred are sub-themes that Grande subtly explores throughout the memoir. How do her parents’ dreams and imaginings about their lives conflict with their lived reality? How does Grande use this tension to characterize her parents?